What is the quality every climber needs?I don’t know if there is one and only one. But I think every climber probably needs to love a challenge – otherwise they’d just walk up the backside.

What is your greatest regret?
Fear.

What is your greatest fear?
Regret.

What is your favorite mundane task?
Walking my girlfriend’s dog.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
I don’t know that any virtue can be overrated – isn’t that the definition of virtuosity? That said, I think humility is an overwrought virtue in the climbing community. It’s such a played out angle for a pro climber to take that it’s almost knee-jerk these days, and I think often lacks authenticity.

On what occasion do you lie?
I try not to – but I may bend on occasion when I think a lie is more altruistic than the truth.

What kind of car do you drive?
I’m kind of a baller, so I have two cars. When I’m on the west coast, I drive an 87 VW Golf with an 82 Diesel Vanagon engine – it gets 45 mpg. When I’m East, I drive a 92 Geo Metro (it only gets 35 mpg). Combined value of the cars is still under $4000, so I guess I’m not super-baller.

Your greatest vice?
Selfishness.

Loose chalk, or chalk ball?
Do people still use those things? The last thing I want to do when I’m pumped out way above my gear is SQUEEZE something.

Which living person do you most despise?
I try not to do despise people. I think despising stems from ignorance, and a lack of compassion.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
I’ll go with what – mountains.

What is the trait you like least about yourself?
I find it hard to sacrifice my happiness for the benefit of others.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Videography. I want to tell great stories, but nobody reads any more. I think I got it right by deciding to be an artist, but writing is a shitty medium for the modern world.

What is your current state of mind?
Contemplative.

Boulder, Top-Rope, Trad, Sport or other?
Trad.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
‘I’

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d make myself less averse to training.

Where would you like to live?
Index, WA in the summer; Bishop, CA in the fall; Cochamo, Chile in the Winter; out of my car on the East Coast in the Spring.

What do you most value in your friends?
Honesty, compassion, intelligence.